Carl W. Breihan

Carl W. Breihan (February 3, 1916 - March 3, 1998) was a noted historian and author. A former St. Louis, Missouri County Police Commissioner, he also served on the St. Louis County Council for several terms. Widely regarded as the top authority on historical outlaws Frank and Jesse James, as well as the Younger Brothers, he is the author of numerous books on the subject of outlaws, lawmen and badmen of the Old West, including The Complete and Authentic Life of Jesse James, The Younger Brothers, Killer Legions of Quantrill, Great Lawmen of the West and Date with Destiny: Billy the Kid. He was an avid collector Old West memorabilia, with much of his collection derived directly from various family members of Jesse W. James and the Youngers. He was also instrumental in a ten-year challenge beginning in 1971 to disprove J. Frank Dalton’s claim that he was in fact the original Jesse W. James. Breihan died in 1998 at the age of 82.